Why the Pascua Yaqui Prayer Matters for Tucson

Photo: Emma Wilford/VOICES, Inc. & City High School

Originally published on Youthradio.org, the premier source for youth generated news throughout the globe.

By: Patty Talahongva

It is fitting and proper that Dr. Carlos Gonzales offers a prayer at tonight's memorial for the victims, survivors and their families of the shooting that left Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in critical condition. Dr. Gonzales is an associate professor at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine. He is a medical doctor. He is also a Pascua Yaqui Indian who embraces his culture and is learning the ways of traditional healing.

Dr. Gonzales will aid in the healing of this community, this state and indeed this nation in the wake of such violence.

The reservation of the Pascua Yaqui Nation is located just outside of Tucson. They are in District Seven, the neighboring district of Representative Giffords.

In a state that passed the English Only law and the more recent Senate Bill 1070, Dr. Gonzales represents the diversity Rep. Giffords embraces. He comes from a tribe that, because of an international border which now crosses their aboriginal homelands, has citizens living in villages in Mexico. His people are also tri-lingual speaking English, Spanish and some still speak Yoeme, the traditional language of the Pascua Yaqui.

So tonight it comes down to words from an aboriginal man, from a race of people who have consistently helped this nation in times of strife. Arizona is home to the Navajo and Hopi Code Talkers who are credited with creating codes in their traditional languages which were never broken by the enemy during World War II. They helped save countless American lives.

Quite often the words and voice of the American Indian/Alaska Native is lost in America, their indigenous homeland, but tonight the country will hear from a man who clearly represents America and her rich diversity...

Words matter. Words can sometimes save lives. And when words are spoken in prayer, in a positive way, they can surely do more good than harm.

Dr. Gonzales spends his time teaching students and working with those who are in their residencies. As he told me he's training, "the next generation of family doctors," healers who will spend their lives helping their fellow human beings, and comforting them with words.

Patty Talahongva is a freelance journalist based in Arizona and former president of the Native American Journalists Association. She is also Hopi Indian from First Mesa, AZ. The Hopi have always known the world is round and thus all their prayers include prayers for people around the world.

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Comments

[Ms Eeyore]

02:22 PM on 01/14/2011

I loved the Native American blessing given by Dr. Carlos Gonzalez. It emobides the spirit of Tucson, the beautiful blend of cultures that is embraced by those who call this free and loving place home. I hope the world looks at Tucson and sees a city of acceptance and beauty, an example of our capacity to embrace other cultures and intertwine them with our own. I hope the world remembers those lost in this tragedy, these people of Tucson who loved and cherished her and her beautiful diversity, and every time we hear someone say they want to "take our country back" remind them that this country belongs to us all.

[Huey Long]

04:32 PM on 01/13/2011

Very cool that he blessed all the creatures of the earth in detailed fasion.

[mybandy]

02:19 PM on 01/13/2011

I respect anyone's beliefs, including tose of disbelievers. My objection to and surprise at Mr. Gonzalez' prayer is wholly different. I found the long personal biography and extended discussion of his belief system, with only a passing reference to the victims and tragedy that brought us to Tucsan to be wholly inappropriate for the occasion. In a comparitive religion or native American culture class or seminar, I would find such a broad discussion fascinating and rewarding. As an invocation to a memorial, I found it most notably incredibly self-directed and virtually silent on the tragedy of Saturday. He seemed intent on grabbing his "15 minutes of fame" to lecture to the kind of nationwide captive audience he would never have again. Rather than letting this be about the victims, it was all about him. Sad.

[rev kate]

08:55 PM on 01/14/2011

Considering all those who did not understand the invocation in the slightest (pundits and beyond), I suspect that Dr. Gonzales' explanations were indeed needed. He provided grounding for the place and culture for the event. He provided the soul for the event. In a time of sound-bites and saying only what appeals to the masses, deep ownership of self and inviting others to relate to something personal is something we are not accustomed to. And sharing his way of relating personal experience, I also happen to be Dr. Gonzales' cousin and can tell you that his blessings are unbelievably genuine and powerful in spirit.

[Moe Cipher]

09:41 PM on 01/12/2011

why did pundits on fox news hate on his invocation? called it "quite strange." i thought that was quite unfortunate.

[anahata56]

06:16 AM on 01/13/2011

Because they didn't understand it. If it isn't within the realms of their personal experience, it is "strange". As for me, it's the first time I heard an invocation that I actually identified with.